Published 24 Jun 2023
Lumo, the 100% electric train company, has been announced as Beamish Museum’s inaugural Business Champion, a position designed to acknowledge businesses dedicated to supporting the North East’s rich heritage.
The partnership comes as part of Lumo’s focus on celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the world’s first locomotive works – Robert Stephenson & Co, in the North East.
Lumo’s Newcastle based offices are on the site of the world’s first locomotive factory, founded by Robert Stephenson. Earlier this year, Lumo designed a commemorative logo to celebrate the bi-centenary of the works opening which is now displayed at its offices and carried on one of its trains.
Beamish Museum is home to a number of Stephenson related exhibits, so to mark the occasion, Lumo sponsored an all-electric shuttle bus service to the museum on the anniversary weekend.
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Lumo, said: “Lumo takes great pride in its North East roots and is deeply committed to supporting the communities we serve while celebrating our rich industrial heritage.
"As we join forces with Beamish this year as its inaugural Business Champion, we also join the region in commemorating the bicentenary of the founding of the Stephenson Locomotive Works. On the very site where railways were first imaged, Lumo is now reimagining rail. The North East has always been a hub for railway innovation, and we’re now building on that legacy with our cutting-edge, sustainable rail service delivered by local individuals. In doing so, we aim to enhance connectivity, foster tourism and propel the region forward into an even brighter future."
Rail pioneer Robert Stephenson opened the world’s first locomotive factory at South Street on Forth banks in Newcastle in 1823. He was only 19 at the time. The famous Locomotion No. 1 and Stephenson’s Rocket were both developed at the site, which is now the Stephenson’s Quarter.
About Lumo
Lumo is a new rail travel experience that is kinder to the planet and better value for customers, making it a greener and more affordable choice for long distance travel in the UK.
Why are we called ‘Lumo’? The word combines illumination and motion – we take our passengers’ wellbeing extremely seriously and want everyone to arrive refreshed and ready. To travel well, beyond expectations. We aim to reimagine what it means to travel by rail and Lumo brings that together in one word.
Lumo offers a single class service which puts everyone in the ‘good seats’ with optimised leg room and larger tray tables. It also gives customers the option of keeping their luggage close by or, for an additional charge, having it delivered to their final station or destination.
Lumo aims to contribute £750m to the economy in the next 10 years, create over 100 new jobs and generate over 1m extra seats on the network every year. It is an ‘open access’ train operating company, meaning it does not receive state funding, and has invested £100m to manufacture and maintain five 100% electric trains, built by Hitachi.
Other services include LumoEats, an at seat catering offer which will allow customers to purchase on board from our catering trolley or pre-order food via the app from a range of high street brands, LumoLuggage - a bespoke courier service designed to sustainably transport your oversized, heavy luggage to your final destination, and LumoGo, an all-in-one free Wi-Fi and entertainment centre that will allow customers to tweet, work, and play on the go.